Ship



Dec. 27, 1938. N. B. GEDDES SHIP Filed Aug. 28, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l I NM INVENTOR BY Home ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1938. N. B. GEDDYES ,1 0

SHIP- Filed Aug. 28, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fag. 7

INVENTOR gm M gum mm K kWh/l ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1938. N. B. GEDDES SHIP Filed Aug. 28, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mun ' Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to ships, and has to do more particularly with the structure or architecture of ocean-going steamships. The improvements herein claimed have been in part disclosed in my bool; Horizons published in November 193 2, and in my design Patent No. 91,579 of February 20, 1934 for Boat. My Patent No. 1,958,040 of May 8, 1934 for Boat launching and stowing apparatus shows certain elements herein embodied in new combinations.

The general object of the present invention is to improve the structural shape and other features of structure and operation of ocean-going ships, particularly with respect to efficiency and economy of performance and the attaining of better speeds with less driving power. A particular object is to afford the structural redesign of a ship to ofler minimum resistance to progress, not only as to the travel of the hull through water but as to the travel of the superstructure through air; a moderate increase in rate of speed or a substantial saving in fuel for a given speed constituting a highly important factor in oceangoing travel. I

A further object refers to the reduction of cost of building a ship of given capacity, and a reduction of the weight of the ship, afiording relatively increased cargo tonnage. Additional objects are to provide convertibility of certain decks by which they can be opened or closed according to weather conditions; and to provide improved means for accommodating and operating life boats without impairing the other objects. Further objects and advantages will be hereinafter further explained or be apparent to those conversant with the subject. To the attainment of the various objects and advantages mentioned the present invention consists in the novel ship 40 and the novel features of construction design,

arrangement and combination herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a general exterior perspective view of a ship em- 45 bodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view looking at a downward incline toward the bow and bringing out certain details of structure and contour. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the after part 50 of the ship, in this case shown afloat.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the ship shown in Figs. 1-3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view taken at the level of the promenade deck. 7 55 Fig. 6 is a longitudinal central section view.

Fig. '7 is a transverse section through the navigators bridge indicating its cantilever structure.

Fig. 8 on a larger scale than Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of part of the 'ships skin or shellabove one or more of the after decks, where 5 the structure is convertible for opening or closing such decks.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section view taken on the section line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 on an enlarged scale is a transverse 10 section taken on the line illiB of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section view taken on the broken line ii-H of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section of the ship at one side of the boat deck, showing the means 16 for accommodating and launching life boats.

Referring first to the general structural shape or contour of the ship, there is shown a hull comprising a normally submerged portion 20 and a portion 2i above water, this hull constructed 20 of an efficient design such as the so-called waveline type of hull, not herein claimed except in combination with the superstructure features. The hull has a well rounded bow 22 and a tapering stem 23. At thebottom is a keel 25, and submerged at the rear a rudder 26, with driving propellers 21 conventionally shown.

Combined with such hull is the superstructure hereof comprising a convexly rounded or domed nose or bow end 30, which may be described as ellipsoidal or spheroidal in form and generally complementary to the rounded bow of the hull below. There is shown a narrow outstanding walk 3! commencing at the extreme nose between the hull and superstructure and extending around at both sides to a substantial distance rearward, and to which access may be had by way of a passage and housing 32 at the extreme how.

The greatest cross sectional dimension of the superstructure is well forward, being shown at about the point'33, a fraction of the length of the ship from the extreme bow, and from this maximum section the sides 34 and the top 35 taperrearwardly, the entire aft end 36 of the 5 ship being progressively tapered, in conjunction with the contour of the hull, and the two shaped smoothly to terminate in an extreme tip or tail 31.

With this general streamline structure are harmonized all other exposed'features of the ship. Thus the navigators bridge 40 is of the general shape of an aerofoil or monoplane wing, with fore-and-aft streamlined section, and set upon the top of the superstructure near to the point 33 of maximum transverse section. The bridge has an interior cantilever structure M to avoid exterior struts, and its skin is provided with a complete series of observation windows 32. Extending rearwardly behind the center of the bridge is a tapered protrusion 53 by which the bridge contour is blended at this point with-that of the superstructure.

The forward stack 55 is surrounded by a much enlarged housing 45 and the second or rear stack &8 is similarly enclosed in a housing 39, the ample space between the housing walls and stacks being utilized for purposes of ship operation or convenience. A raked lookout mast 50 is combined with the forward stack housing.

Substantially all other usually exposed features are preferably enclosed within the contour described, thus minimizing protrusions offering resistance and creating retarding eddies. Thus, fore and aft hatchways are normally smoothly closed by hatches b2 and 53. The life boats and launching apparatus are enclosed inside the boat deck, as will be further described, and the exits or doorways for the boats are normally smoothly closed by hinged doors or panels 55. At various decks are smoothly mounted square windows 5i and round port holes 59.

As is brought out particularly by Figs. '1 to 3 the structural outline of the ship constitutes an organized entirety. The contours of the hull, the superstructure, the bridge and the stack housings are not merely individually streamlined but are mutually harmonized, their outlines merging one into the other in a manner minimizing head resistance and rear eddies.

The enclosing shell or skinof the ship is composed of plates mounted upon and maintained in position by a system of interior structural bracing-elements. Thus immediately within the skin 60 is a system of open elliptical frames or bulkheads 6 l, in the nature of large rings or hoops extending both over and under the water line and supporting the skin both of the superstructure and hull, and these cross frames or laterals M are interconnected by longitudinals 62 certain of which are indicated in Figs. 3, 8 and 11. The skin 68 also is naturally a strength element, and may be composed of metal panels or plates fixed to each other and to the frame by welding or riveting, except that 'at certain places above certain decks, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, the usual metal plates are omitted to afford decks, preferably at the after part of the ship, which may be permanently open as indicated in Fig. 3, between the frame members or may be convertible between open and closed condition, for example by sliding panel or window arrangements as indicated in Figs. 8 to 13..

The balance of the interior ship structure consists mainly of a system of decks, as will be described more in detail, these being rigidly connected with the ship frame and skin, and being herein characterized as being substantially level or horizontal, longitudinally from stem to stern as well as laterally from side to side, as distinguished from the usual deck structure crowned laterally and curved upwardly toward each end of the vessel. Greater facility of interior architecture and arrangement and greater comfort result. The system of parallel decks throughout further affords substantial economy of structure in that the structural elements may be standardized, the windows of uniformly square shape and size, and similar constructional features of regular tween the transverse frames bl,

rather than individual character at different parts of the ship.

In a modern ship the skin may be generally closed and the decks thus housed in as disclosed in view of the increasing adoption of air conditioning and various other modern comforts and necessities are to be understood and will not be enumerated.

To outline the possibilities of deck arrangements and interior spaces, as illustratively shown in Figs. 4-6, directly above the keel are cargo spaces 66 with hatchways El above them, closed by hatches 52 and 53; a space 68 to contain fresh water; boiler rooms 69; fuel oil spaces ill; and turbine rooms 7 i. v

Thereabove, as indicated at the front of Fig. 6, are the successive decks A, B, C, D, E and F; and above deck A is promenade deck M and at still higher levels boat deck 15 and open sun deck I'd.

Dining and analogous rooms or cabins ll are indicated at convenient points, and lounges or similar roonis T8; with a theater l9 aft of the center of the ship and therebehind a gymnasium 8B.

Beneath theopen or openable part of the superstructure skin, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6 may be accommodated, at various levels, a game space orfloor 82, and aft thereof tennis or other play courts 83, between and below which is a swimming pool 8d, and aft thereof an open sun space or beach 85. All of these may be housed in in inclement weather under the glass panels to be described, while in fair weather the skin may be converted for open exposure of these spaces. For converting the game and recreation spaces from closed to open condition and vice versa there is shown a system of glass panels 89 and at beadapted to be disposed of by removal, or by sliding or folding them away when desired. Details of an illustrative structure for this purpose are shown in Figs. 8 to 11 wherein the upper tiers of glass panels 89 are mounted in fixed sashes 9!, as this central overhead part may permanently closed, admitting light however through the glass panels. The panels 99 of the lower tiers are mounted in sashes 92 adapted to be shifted to open completely'the deck space therebenath, as will be described. Mounted rigidly on the transverse frame members Bl are angle irons 93 giving fixed support to the sashes 9! of the upper tier. Angle irons 9G thereunder give sliding or rolling support for the sashes 92 of the lower tier, of which all of the sashes in each transverse row may be connected to slide in unison upon two angle irons 96 as a track; Each of the sashes $2 is shown provided with rollers 95 running on the angle irons Si l.

. In Figs. 8 to 11 the lower tiers of the panels are shown in their lowered or closed position, it being understood that they can be slid or rolled up under'the panels of the upper tier, to open these deck spaces to atmospheric air. As each of the rows of lower panels is moved into closed position, as shown, the lowermost sash Q2 thereof comes in contact with a stop block or beam 88 fixedly attached to the skin 66 of the superstructure. To improve water tightness of the described structure various rubber packings and shields a? may be employed. The lower end of each angle iron 5 is shown as provided with a 93 above them, for greater tightness against the -25 weather. To look the panels in their lowered position the lowermost sash 92 of each series is shown provided with a forked projection ltd, and with this is detachaoly connected a swinging bolt hid, the locking nut or head of which bears upon the fork and may be drawn tight. The operation of the shiitable sashes or panels to convert this part of the superstructure may be efiected in any desirable manner, as by motors, but being conventionally illustrated by a chain 953 attached to the uppermost shiftable panel and passing around a pulley ill!) .to a convenient operating point.

Coming now to the life boat launching apparatus, this is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 12 where each life boat HM is shown accommodated in a compartment at the level of the boat deck 15. This compartment is normally closed by an exterior panel I05 in the nature of a door, which is hinged at its lower-edge so as to swing out and down, with a cable IDS or other means to stop its swinging in the position shown wherein the panel is substantially flush with the boat deck and constitutes a gangplank, having a hand rail on, by which passengers may walk out to a point well removed from the skin of the ship and there enter the life boat in the position lilo".

Within'the compartment is shown a sliding davit ills of cantilever construction, which may be substantially as illustrated in my said Patent 1,958,040, this frame sliding bodily outwardly and inwardly on upper and lower tracks illi. when moved outwardly the u per outer corner of the sliding frame issues to the position shown in dotted lines, corresponding to the dotted line position in said patent, the boat tilt being thereupon suspended in the position 105, in the present case above the gangway H35.

in order to extend the outward movement of the boat to apoint beyond the gangway an extension frame or bar H2 may be used, sliding or telescoping in the davit H39, this telescoping memoer being shown in dotted lines as'thrust fully outward, bringing out the life boat to the position the. The boat may be provided with a ball or suspension cable lid to which is attached the lowering cable i i5, and by paying this out by any ordinary cable control mechanism the boat may be lowered to position til -h flush with the gang= way, permitting passengers safely to enter the boat before its subsequent final lowering and launching at water level.

t is proposed to provide an alarm system for the ship whereby in times of emergency not only will alarms be sounded to warn passengers of danger, but automatically access will be given to the boat compartments, otherwise shut off from access, power being at the same time applied to cause the opening of the hinged panels I05, the sliding out of each davit I89 and the lowering of the life boat to position 1M flush with the boat deck and gangway.

Many features and details of construction, design, arrangement and combination may be variously modified within the principles of the lnvention; therefore it is not desired to limit the invention to such features except to the extent set forth in the appended I claim:

1. In an ocean-going ship of ole-s a system of interior decks within the hull and superstructure, and the enclosed superstructure of which a substantially narrowed beam at such decks as are above the level oi widest beam by reason of convergence of the ship and loading a small boat accommodated in a compartment between two decks both substantially above the level of widest beam of the ship; characterized by a skin-panel normally closing the launching exit of the compartment, said panel being fitted at the lower of such two decks to swing out and down substantially flush with such lower deck, and having means for there holding it, thereby to operate as a gangway projecting beyond the point of widest beam well above water level for loading said small boat, and davit mechanism between said two decks comprising a frame having upper and lower members and bodily slidable upon the lower oi'such two decks transversely in said compartment and having its upper members projecting outwardly well beyond its lower members whereby to project beyond the point of widest beam of the ship when the lower members of said davit fran e are slid substantially to the edge of such lower deck, thereby to carry the small boat outwardly from the compartment through such exit above and beyond said panel-gangway and hey: d the widest beam of the ship, and adapted t2 eupon to lower the small boat into loading relation to the gangway and thence to water.

2. A ship having a system of interior dec within an enclosed huh and enclosed superstructure, and having a means for is 'nciu'ng and loading a small boat accommodated ment between two decks both subst Ia the water level; said means characterized by a skin-panel normally closing the launching of the compartment, said panel being at the lower of such two decks to swing out and down suostantially flush with such lower do I; and havsides above such level; a means for lau ching ing means for there holding it, thereby to onerate as a gangway projecting beyond the point of widest beam well above water level for loading or unloading said small heat, and davit mecha nism normally accommod ted between said two decks comprising a davit frame having upper and lower members and bodily slidable transversely in said compartment and having such upper members projecting outwardly well beyond such lower members whereby to project substantially beyond the point of widest beam of the ship when the lower members of said davit frame are slid substantially to the edge of such lower deck, thereby to carry the small boat outwardly from. the compartment through such exit and above and beyond the open panel-gangway and beyond the widest beam of the ship, whereby the small boat is adapted thereupon to be lowered into loading NORMAN BEL GEED'ES. 

